Looking for an alternative to the traditional turkey feast
for the holidays this year?
Turkeys grace the table at many homes, but hams offer another
easy option.

"Ham is easy to prepare," said Judy Harrison, a
foods specialist with the
University of Georgia Extension Service. "It's relatively
inexpensive, and there are
many ways to serve it."

There are many ways to buy ham, too. Those many options can
confuse shoppers and put
their families' safety at risk.

Grocery and specialty stores offer hams as fully-cooked,
smoked, honey-baked, cured and
fresh. Each type may require different preparation and
storage.

Harrison said these guidelines can help keep hams safe for
your family feasts:

* Smoked hams aren't always fully cooked. Read the label
carefully to find if the ham
is fully cooked or if it needs further cooking.

* Any ham that is fully cooked will say so on the label.
"If it doesn't say
'fully-cooked,' cook it to an internal temperature of at least
160 degrees to be
safe," she said.

* Treat fresh hams just like any fresh pork cut. Buy the meat
only two to three days
before you plan to use it. Refrigerate it until just before
cooking, and cook it to an
internal temperature of at least 160 degrees.

* Serve a honey-baked ham immediately after bringing it home
from the store or deli.
Separate leftover slices into small containers and refrigerate.
Reheat the slices to 165
degrees before serving.

* Store whole country, or dry-cure, hams in a cool, dry
place. Many stores sell country
ham slices in vacuum packaging that keeps the meat safe. Store
cut or opened
vacuum-packaged country hams in the refrigerator.

* Treat leftovers carefully. Get leftover ham into small
containers and into the
refrigerator as quickly as you can after a meal. Serve it within
two to three days. Freeze
any meat that won't be used within that time.

"To ensure that the ham is prepared safely, use an oven
temperature of at least
325 degrees," Harrison said.

All those hams still have you confused? Harrison offers one
last piece of advice:
"If you're unsure, cook the ham until it reaches at least
160 degrees, and use a meat
thermometer to check doneness."